Every Woman's Story Fresh Start Devotionals - Flipbook - Page 12
Week
5 Devotional
D AY 2 9 : M AY 1 9
GOD’S STORY
Genesis 45:1-28
“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery
in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with
yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who
sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”
G E N E S I S 4 5 : 4 - 5 , N LT
DEVOT I ON
Could you do that—tell people who had sold you into slavery that you wanted them to forgive themselves? Could I?
I met a modern-day Joseph, a man who had been sold into bondage. Not by brothers, but by neighbors who wanted
ransom money, and accused him of a crime he did not commit in order to get it. Ben Spencer was young,
launching his life, and in love with a wonderful woman. Even though Ben had an alibi—other people testified he
was with them at the time of the murder—he was convicted. And imprisoned, just like Joseph. Just like Joseph,
Ben’s freedom was sold. Just like Joseph, he was wrongly accused and imprisoned.
But unlike Joseph, Ben was not locked up for a few years. No, Ben spent most of his adult life behind bars. He even
was offered a chance to get out early, if only he would tell the judge he had committed a crime he had not.
But, like Joseph, Ben was innocent. He would be lying if he admitted to a crime he didn’t do. And, as Ben grew
deeper and deeper in love with God during decades behind bars, he could not bring himself to lie. Even if it cost
him his freedom and a chance to start a family. He wrote to his girlfriend, who had waited for years for him, that he
was sorry. He hoped she’d understand that doing a plea bargain would take away the one thing Ben had freedom
to choose: his character.
Behind bars, Ben read the Bible. He read it over and over and over again—cover to cover. He read it so often that he
wore out the pages and, many times, asked for and received from the guards a new Bible to replace the old.
And stunningly, when eventually Ben gained freedom, Ben forgave his accusers—the ones who put him behind
bars! And, even more, he came to the aid of the family that had lost a loved one through a murder Ben did not
commit.
F I ND I NG YOUR STORY AND PURPOSE I N GOD’S STORY
Every Woman’s and the Every Woman’s logo are trademarks of Tyndale House Ministries.
